Feed-regulator.



J. G. .SGHAFPBR. FEED REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED D130. 5, 1911.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. O. SCHAFFER.

FEED REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED D20. 5, 1911.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnicn.

JOHN C. SCHAFFER, TOLEDO, OHIO.

FEED-REGULATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. SCHAFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Feed-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to feeders for handling materials in definite quantity.

This invention has utility when embodied in a feeder required to deliver material at a constant rate, being especially adapted for automatic operation. I

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away showing an embodiment of the invention as an adjustable predetermined rate feed regulator; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the hopper in position as to the re ulator; Fig. 4 is a view on the line IV-J Fig. 1, looking in the'direction of the arrow; and Fig. 5 is a detail view in side elevation of one of the wear shoes.

The hopper 1 is provided with an inclined back 2 and sides 3 to opening 4 broadening toward its forward end as shown in. Fig. 3. The back 2 runs down with alittle clearance from the belt 5, while along the outer face of the sides 3 are provided pockets 6 in each of which is a wear shoe 7 shown as freely movable by its ownweight to rest upon the belt 5 and thus automatically take up wear.

In placing the blocks or shoes in the pockets 6, clamps 8 (Fig. 5) are applied to maintain the shoes n position, although in normal belt travel they are forward end of thehopper, and serve effectively to retain material within the hopper width'or area.

The forward side of the hopper 1 is provided with a double walled side or a pair of similar sides 8 (Fig. 1) having registering openings 9 on their lower sides. Between these opposing sides 8 which are placed to.- gether 1n the form of a box are antifriction rollers 10 (Fig. 4) between which is mounted the reciprocable controlling means or gate 11 connected by link 12 to adjusting means 13 on the lever 14 which has fulcrum bracket 15. Mounted on the lever 14 is the indicator 16 movable across the face of the dial 17 mounted on the bracket 15 to permit ready determination of position of the lever 14. To the opposite extremities of this forked lever 14 areconnected links 18 provided with adjusting sleeves 19. These Specification of Letters Patent.

drawn toward the wider Patented. Apr. 15,1913.

Application filed December 5, 1911. Serial No. 663,972.

links 18 are connected to levers30 mounted on the fulcrum brackets 21 and carrying at their-extremities, remote from links 18, the roller 22 which is counter-poised by the weights 23 and which may be further adjuste'd for additional refinement by the weight 34.

As an embodiment of a way handling material, such way in this disclosure is shown as traveling with the material transportml. Sustaining said material handling way or conveyer belt 5 is shown the idler 32. Equidistant from this roller 22 are the belt sustaining idlers 25-over which the belt 5 travels from drive roller 26 on shaft 27 to the follower 28 on shaft 29. The belt 5 provides a continuous way between rollers or pulleys 26 and 28. These shafts 27 and 29 are mounted in brackets 30 on the frame 31 mounted by links 32 actuated by rod 33 to vary the position of upper frame 31 from lower frame 34. This rod 33 is movable in the bracket 35 connected to frame 31 and is locked in adjusted position by the nut 36 on rod 33 and clamp 37 holding bracket 35 in position as to frame 34. By this device for adjusting the position of the conveyor, the chamber or receptacle 1 may be readily placed into position as to any source of supply such as the bin 38.

Were the pull for driving the belt 5 on the loaded portion thereof, the tautness might introduce objectionable variations in the action of the mechanism, especiallyas the load varied. .To eliminate such possible inaccuracies of the device, the shaft 27 has provided thereon the driving pulley 39 to actuate the belt 5 from roller 26 to roller 28 on the upper reach, thus getting a slack on the upper reach or conreyer section.

In operation the material from the source of supply bin 38 falling into the hopper 2 is drawn therefrom by belt or material handling way 5 in such quantity as the lift of the gate or chamber discharge control means 11 may permit as set and controlled by the mechanism.

Many classes of material vary in their feed quantity asto atmospheric conditions or other conditions of fineness or moisture.

In many classes of work it is desirable to insure the handling of a predetermined quantity of material as to weight. In this instance should the material upon belt or way 5 fall below the weight determined upon as adjusted by the balance weight 24,

the pulley 22 will lift the belt section 5 and cause afurther opening of the gate 11 by means of the levers 20 and 14 with connected parts resulting in allowing increased volume of material to be fed upon the belt. As the eiiect of this increased volume reaches the pulley 22, the mechanism will bring the gate 11 back to its set osition for normal operation. According yythere is accurate and positive control of material volume to be handled by this feeder while operated atconstant speed rate. For convenience in instances where totals are desired, there may be provided on shaft 27 an arm 40- to engage spider 41 and thus operate the motor 42, which may he graduated to read linear feet of belt travel or with setting for predetermined quantity of material for running footon the belt, read directly in any desired notation of pounds, cubic yards, etc.

Should there be an exhausting of material from'bin 38 or a clogging therein so that.

quantity of material upon the belt 5 falls to such a minimum as to tilt lever 20 abnormally, contact 43 thereon shorts between the lines 44, 45, to close an electric circuit including the battery 46 and alarm or electric bell 47 to thus signal attendants.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a material handling way, of a movable support for a section ofsaid way, adjustable means for controlling the material supply to said way, and connections from said support for controlling said means.

2. The combination with an endless belt, of a movable support for a section of said. belt, a gate for controlling the material supply to said belt, and connecting means from said support for controlling said gate.

3. A feed regulator comprising a hop er with a discharge gate, a conveyer receivlng the material. from said hopper, means to actuate the conveyer, and means supporting a portion of said conveyer and controlled by the quantityof material thereon and having connections with said hopper gate for controlling the same.

4. The combination with a receptacle of a chamber provided with a gate, an endless way leading from. said chamber, a movable support for a portion of said Way, and connections from said support to vary the opening of said gate.

porting a section of a gate for controlling material su ply to sai l 6. The combination with a hopper, of a continuously moving member upon which said hopper may -discharge, and a gate pro vided with automatically reciprocable means to vary the amount of material from said hopper which said member may take, said means provided with connections extending to said member to be actuated by material quantity therein.

7. The combination with a hopper, of an endless belt operable below said hopper to remove material therefrom, and gravity shoes held by the hopper and resting upon the belt to retain material.

8. The combination with a hopper, of a belt belowsaid ho per for removing material therefrom, antl automatic wear take up ghjoes held by the hopper and engaging the 9. The combination with a material handling way of a weighted pivoted lever supsaid way, a hopper with way, and connections from the said gate for controlling the latter.

10. The combination with a conveyer for handling material, of a weighted pivoted lever supporting a section of said conveyer, means to actuate the conveyer, a supply duct provided with a gate for controlling material supply to the conveyer, and connections from the lever to the gate for controlling the latter.

11. The combination with an endless belt for handling material, of an adjustably weighted pivoted lever supportin a section of said belt, means to actuate t e belt, a supply duct provided with a gate 'for controlling material supply to the belt, and adjust-able connections from the lever to the gate for controlling the latter.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. SOHAFFER.

ever to Witnesses:

GEO. E. KIRK, GLADYS Jameson. 

